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Landscape, Nature and Architecture

Technological improvements enabled Prince Albert to collect photographs of places that were significant to him

GEORGE WASHINGTON WILSON (1823-93)

Regent Street, London

c. 1880 after an original of 1860

Carbon print | 7.1 x 6.3 cm (image) | RCIN 2320064

Photograph of Regent Street, London, with horse drawn carriages on the road and stone flagged pavements bustling with pedestrians. Many of the men wear top hats. A street lamp stands on the centre right of the foreground.

This photograph was probably taken during Wilson's excursion to England in the Spring of 1860 after which he made his second tour of Scotland in the Autumn. Wilson preferred these times of year to photograph owing to the clarity of the light in making instantaneous photographs that relied on faster exposure times. Eager to exploit the instantaneous effect of freezing moving subjects, Wilson turned his attention to street views and the transient features of nature to capture subjects that early photography could not. This is a later carbon print that was originally adhered over albumen print 2320061. The carbon process was less susceptible to light damage and carbon copies were sometimes adhered over the original albumen photograph. Albumen photographs were more prone to fade over time. 
  • Creator(s)

    George Washington Wilson (1823-93) (photographer)

  • 7.1 x 6.3 cm (image)

  • From an album of photographs collected and arranged by Albert, Prince Consort between 1860 and 1861

  • Subject(s)
    • Places
      • Europe
        • Great Britain
          • England
            • Greater London [England]
              • London [Greater London]
                • Regent Street [London]
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Engineering & Technology
        • Vehicles
          • Simple transport
            • Carriages
      • Agriculture and related techniques
        • Animal husbandry
          • Horses